Push-button electric switch.



L. H. MOULTHROP.

PUSH BUTTON ELECTRIC SWITCH.

nruonmn mum nov. 12, was.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

FNVENTCR WflMoMt/fw 14 TTORNE Y5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEHBEBT H. H'OULTHROP, 0F BRIDGEPOBT, OONNE J'I'IGU'I, ASSIGNOB TO THEPERKINS ELEG- TBIG BWITOH MFG. OOHPANY, 0F BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ACORPORATION OF GON- nEc'rIcU'r.

PUSH-BUTTON ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed November 12, 1908. Seriai No. 462,802.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lmirnnn'r H. MOUL- 'rnnor, a citizen of the UnitedStates of- In the accom anying drawings Figure I is a perspective 0 theoperating mechanism of a switch in which my invention is illustrated; 2is a perspective of the detent device drawn to a larger scale; Fig. 3 isa rear elevation of the operating mechanism;

' and Fi 4 is a perspective of a modified form of detent.

The present invention will be readily 1111 E lerstood by those skilledin the art without llustrating the usual porcelain shell and its commonaccessories. The operating mechanism carried by the usual standard B,riveted to the yoke A' comprises an oscillating contact piece G mountedon the spindle D, and a cooperating rock lever E adapted to actuate theformer through the spring S in the usual manner by means of lugs c and eembraced by the ends of the spring.

My improved detent as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a spring X mountedon the contact member and extending with the lug into the slot T in thestandard. The slot T is provided with notches 2'; into which the springX. naturally rises at the end of the stroke across the slot. Until thespring depressed by the cam shoulder c on the rock lever so as to clearthe edge of the notch, it acts as a detent reventing the contact memberfrom following the oscillation of the rock lever when the latter isactuated by the out ,push button, As soon as the spring X is pushed downto clear the edoe of the notch t, the contact member snaps across, thusinsuring a quick break or make for the switch' To relieve the spring Xof any unnecessary strain from the stroke of the switch it ismade-slightly narrower than the lug 0 and Ivorksin a slight recess inthe end of the fily device may be varied in detail con-' siderablywithout departing from my invention. For instance instead of making thelug c rigid. and securing thereto the spring X, I may make the lug citself of spring metal and so form it that iteprings into the notches Itin like manner as the spring X at the end of the switch stroke.

Other variations will readily suggest themselves and I do not limitmyself to the details shown.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an electric switch ah oscillatingcontact-carrying member and a detent moving therewith, said detent.comprising a spring which itself acts directly as the retalning member,in combination with means for freeing said detent.

. 2. In an electric switch an oscillating contact-carrying member,-astandzird carrying the same and having a guide vay with retainingnotches cut therein, a detent' movin with said contactcarrying member anworking in said guideway, said detent comprising a spring which itselfacts directly as the retaining member, in combination with means forfreeing said detent.

3. In an electric switch, a: standard having a slot, an oscillatincontact-carrying' -memher, a rock lever an spring means for operatingthe former, u on the actuation of the latter, a log on saicontact-carrying member working in said slot, :1 spring extendinglengthwise of 'saidlug and acting directl as a detent and meansincombination wit said rock lever for freeing said detent, substantiallyas described.

4.. In an electric switch, a standard having a slot, an oscillatin her,a rock lever an spring means for operating the former u on the actuationof the contact-carrying memlatter, a lug on sai contact-carrying meniherworking in said slot; a spring of less width than said lug extendinglengthwise thereof, and acting dir'ectlyas a.detentand means inconnection with said rock lever for freeing said detent, substantiallyas described.

5. In an electric'switch; a standard having a slot, an oscillatincontact-carrying memher, a rock lever an spring rneans for operating theformer upon the actuation of the lattcr, a recessed lug on saidcontact-carry ing member working in said slot, :1 spring In testimonywhereof I have signed my extending lengthwise of said lug and proname toth s specification, in the presence of vided with a guide tongue workingin the two S ribing wltnesses.

recess in said lug, said spring acting directly LEMBERT H. MOULTHROP. 5as a detent, together with means in connec- VV1tnesses:

tion vith said rock lever for freeing said de- G. W. GOODRIDGE,

tent ai bstantially as described. H. W. GOLDSBOROUGH.

